Gill & Co. must not make the mistake of taking Afghanistan lightly in ODIs says Nayar

Former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar warns India not to underestimate Afghanistan's franchise-tested squad in the upcoming ODI series. Nayar backed Ishan Kishan to anchor the number three spot, while Piyush Chawla highlighted long-term 2027 World Cup preparation

New Delhi: Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar has warned Shubman Gill and his team against complacency in the upcoming three-match ODI series, emphasizing that Afghanistan’s white-ball specialists possess the global franchise experience to trigger a massive upset.

India will face Afghanistan in the opening ODI on June 13 in Dharamshala, with the subsequent matches scheduled for Lucknow and Chennai.

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“Afghanistan will pose a much tougher challenge in this ODI series,” Nayar said on JioHotstar. “Almost every player in their white-ball squad features in franchise leagues around the world, giving them immense international exposure. Whether it is T20Is or ODIs, they play an aggressive brand of cricket, and their bowlers have the pedigree to trouble Indian batters.”

“While there remains a distinct gap in overall quality between the two sides, Afghanistan will be targeting at least two wins. If they achieve that, it would be a monumental milestone for them and a major setback for India. Shubman Gill and his men cannot afford to take them lightly,” Nayar added.

Weighing in on who should fill the crucial number three slot in the absence of Virat Kohli, the former India assistant coach backed Ishan Kishan over Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“Looking at recent form, Ishan Kishan has consistently delivered whenever an injury has created an opening,” Nayar argued. “He was excellent during the T20 World Cup and carried that momentum into the T20I series against New Zealand. He represents a far more experienced, proven anchor at number three compared to Jaiswal. Yashasvi is a natural opener who scored a magnificent century in his last ODI at the top of the order. Based on tactical comfort and experience in the role, Ishan is the logical choice.”

Nayar also mapped out the bowling combinations India should deploy given the absence of several frontline pacers.

“I expect Harsh Dubey to feature because the team lacks a specialist slow left-arm orthodox option, and he doubles up as a useful lower-order asset. The real selection headache is managing the seam department. I want to see Prasidh Krishna’s workload monitored carefully. If the management wants to rotate him, they must look at Gurnoor Brar. He sat out during the Test match but should firmly be in the mix for an ODI debut.”

“Prince Yadav has also been in exceptional form recently. A bowling unit comprising Arshdeep Singh alongside Harsh Dubey, and either Prince Yadav or the 6-foot-5 Gurnoor Brar, gives us an exciting, hungry attack of proven domestic performers,” Nayar stated.

With structural preparations for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup beginning to take shape, former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla stressed the importance of blooding fresh talent.

“Rohit Sharma remains the focal point for India in this series,” Chawla noted. “Since he now plays a single format, maximizing his game time is crucial. With Virat rested, a heavier leadership and run-scoring burden falls on Rohit, and he will be eager to dominate in home conditions.”

“The 2027 World Cup may seem distant, but the groundwork starts now. For South African conditions, which demand pace and bounce, an all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy is central to future planning. He has evolved phenomenally over the recent IPL season—cranking up his velocity, sharpening his variations, and striking regularly. Youngsters like him and Dubey, who tore up the Ranji Trophy, need consistent international exposure right now so we can assess how they fit into the long-term blueprint,” Chawla concluded.